SECOND DIVISION

[G.R. No. 127406. November 27, 2000]
OFELIA P. TY, petitioner, vs. THE COURT OF APPEALS, and EDGARDO M. REYES, respondents. DECISION QUISUMBING, J.: This appeal seeks the reversal of the decision dated July 24, 1996, of the Court of Appeals in C.A. – G.R. CV 37897, which affirmed the decision of the Regional Trial Court of Pasig, Branch 160, declaring the marriage contract between private respondent Edgardo M. Reyes and petitioner Ofelia P. Ty null and void ab initio. It also ordered private respondent to pay P15,000.00 as monthly support for their children Faye Eloise Reyes and Rachel Anne Reyes. As shown in the records of the case, private respondent married Anna Maria Regina Villanueva in a civil ceremony on March 29, 1977, in Manila. Then they had a church wedding on August 27, 1977. However, on August 4, 1980, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Quezon City declared their marriage null and void ab initio for lack of a valid marriage license. The church wedding on August 27, 1977, was also declared null and void ab initio for lack of consent of the parties. Even before the decree was issued nullifying his marriage to Anna Maria, private respondent wed Ofelia P. Ty, herein petitioner, on April 4, 1979, in ceremonies officiated by the judge of the City Court of Pasay. On April 4, 1982, they also had a church wedding in Makati, Metro Manila. On January 3, 1991, private respondent filed a Civil Case 1853-J with the RTC of Pasig, Branch 160, praying that his marriage to petitioner be declared null and void. He alleged that they had no marriage license when they got married. He also averred that at the time he married petitioner, he was still married to Anna Maria. He stated that at the time he married petitioner the decree of nullity of his marriage to Anna Maria had not been issued. The decree of nullity of his marriage to Anna Maria was rendered only on August 4, 1980, while his civil marriage to petitioner took place on April 4, 1979. Petitioner, in defending her marriage to private respondent, pointed out that his claim that their marriage was contracted without a valid license is untrue. She submitted their Marriage License No. 5739990 issued at Rosario, Cavite on April 3, 1979, as Exh. 11, 12 and 12-A. He did not question this document when it was submitted in evidence. Petitioner also submitted

2. and could not have been the intendment of even the now-repealed provisions of the Civil Code on marriage. that a second marriage may proceed even without a judicial decree. Reyes. which declared null and void his civil marriage to Anna Maria Regina Villanueva celebrated on March 29. the doctrine cited by defendant’s counsel that ‘no judicial decree is necessary to establish the invalidity of void marriages. without difficulty. We modify the appealed Decision in this wise: 1. before the judgment declaring his prior marriage as null and void is undisputed. These documents were submitted as evidence during trial and. The marriage contracted by plaintiff-appellant [herein private respondent] Eduardo M. and 3. to say the least. While it is true that if a marriage is null and void. 1977. Plaintiff-appellant Eduardo M.’ It does not say.000. 1982. according to petitioner. Cost against plaintiff-appellant Eduardo M. and his church marriage to said Anna Maria on August 27. The results would be disquieting. ab initio. Ty is declared null and void ab initio. 1996. are therefore deemed sufficient proof of the facts therein.00 to his children Faye Eloise Reyes and Rachel Anne Reyes from November 4. 1991. 1979. 1991.the decision of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Quezon City dated August 4. we are unwilling to rule that the matter of whether a marriage is valid or not is for each married spouse to determine for himself – for this would be the consequence of allowing a spouse to proceed to a second marriage even before a competent court issues a judicial decree of nullity of his first marriage. the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s decision. It ruled that a judicial declaration of nullity of the first marriage (to Anna Maria) must first be secured before a subsequent marriage could be validly contracted.
. 1977. It also appears indisputable that private respondent and petitioner had a church wedding ceremony on April 4. Both parties appealed to respondent Court of Appeals. Reyes and defendant-appellant [herein petitioner] Ofelia P. Said the appellate court: We can accept. On July 24. there is in fact no subsisting marriage. The Pasig RTC sustained private respondent’s civil suit and declared his marriage to herein petitioner null and void ab initio in its decision dated November 4. The fact that the civil marriage of private respondent and petitioner took place on April 4. xxx WHEREFORE. however. 1980. Reyes is ordered to give monthly support in the amount of P15. upon the foregoing ratiocination.

O No. But the appellate court said these cases. A JUDICIAL DECREE NOT REQUIRED BY LAW. COURT OF APPEALS. The appellate court rejected petitioner’s claim that People v. The principal issue in this case is whether the decree of nullity of the first marriage is required before a subsequent marriage can be entered into validly? To resolve this question. BOTH IN THE DECISION AND THE RESOLUTION. the Court of Appeals declared the marriage of petitioner to private respondent null and void for lack of a prior judicial decree of nullity of the marriage between private respondent and Villanueva. Petitioner’s motion for reconsideration was denied. Aragon are applicable in this case. No. In refusing to consider petitioner’s appeal favorably. A binding decree is now needed and must be read into the provisions of law previously obtaining.SO ORDERED. IN REQUIRING FOR THE VALIDITY OF PETITIONER’S MARRIAGE TO RESPONDENT. IV IN THE DECISION NOT GRANTING MORAL AND EXEMPLARY DAMAGES TO THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. we shall go over applicable laws and pertinent cases to shed light on the assigned errors. II IN THE RESOLUTION. Hence. no longer control. In sustaining the trial court. IN APPLYING THE RULING IN DOMINGO VS. 209 as amended by E. Mendoza and People v. no judicial decree is necessary to establish its invalidity. III IN BOTH THE DECISION AND RESOLUTION IN NOT CONSIDERING THE CIVIL EFFECTS OF THE RELIGIOUS RATIFICATION WHICH USED THE SAME MARRIAGE LICENSE. this instant petition asserting that the Court of Appeals erred: I. the appellate court also said:
. particularly the first and the second which we shall discuss jointly. 227). For these cases held that where a marriage is void from its performance.O. decided before the enactment of the Family Code (E.

Case No. Accused contracted a second marriage during the subsistence of his first marriage. or (2) The first spouse had been absent for seven consecutive years at the time of the second marriage without the spouse present having news of the absentee being alive. Mendoza. At the outset. a judicial declaration that the first marriage was null and void ab initio is essential. The marriage so contracted shall be valid in any of the three cases until declared null and void by a competent court. After the death of his first wife. 3 July 1992 is mandatory precedent for this case. however. 2349. this Court held that no judicial decree is necessary to establish the nullity of a void marriage. in People v. The present case differs significantly from the recent cases of Bobis v. As to whether a judicial declaration of nullity of a void marriage is necessary. . the facts situate it within the regime of the now-repealed provisions of the Civil Code. Originally. and People v. is generally considered as dead and before any person believed to be so by the spouse present at the time of contracting such subsequent marriage. the Civil Code contains no express provision to that effect. Tan. Both cases involved the same factual milieu. appears to be conflicting. though he has been absent for less than seven years. or if the absentee is presumed dead according to articles 390 and 391. Adm. . under which a judicial declaration of nullity of marriage is clearly required. are governed by the provisions of the Civil Code. Pertinent to the present controversy. accused contracted a third marriage during the subsistence of the
. we must note that private respondent’s first and second marriages contracted in 1977 and 1979. Jurisprudence on the matter. respectively. . Although decided by the High Court in 1992. xxx For purposes of determining whether a person is legally free to contract a second marriage.Terre v. Any marriage subsequently contracted by any person during the lifetime of the first spouse of such person with any person other than such first spouse shall be illegal and void from its performance. 83. Attorney Terre. Bobis and Mercado v. or if the absentee. both involving a criminal case for bigamy where the bigamous marriage was contracted during the effectivity of the Family Code. unless: (1) The first marriage was annulled or dissolved. Aragon. Article 83 of the Civil Code provides that: Art. as in the instant case.

there can be no bigamy. And since the death of the husband supervened before such declaration. The Court. we upheld the right of the second wife to share in the estate they acquired. however. on grounds of justice and equity. Since the second marriage is void. The Court held that no judicial decree is necessary to establish the invalidity of void marriages. saying that it is not for the spouses but the court to judge whether a marriage is void or not. however. In 1978. Lilia married Maxion in 1972. for then such a marriage though void still needs according to this Court a judicial declaration (citing Consuegra) of such fact and for all legal intents and purposes she would still be regarded as a married woman at the time she contracted her marriage with respondent Karl Heinz Wiegel. the Court found the second marriage void without need of judicial declaration. concluded that: There is likewise no need of introducing evidence about the existing prior marriage of her first husband at the time they married each other. having been contracted during the existence of the first marriage. to share in their acquired estate and in proceeds of the retirement insurance of the husband. there are no two subsisting valid marriages. she married another man. In Wiegel. The Court observed that although the second marriage can be presumed to be void ab initio as it was celebrated while the first marriage was still subsisting. still there was a need for judicial declaration of such nullity (of the second marriage). the Court held that there is a need for a judicial declaration of nullity of a void marriage. There is no need for a judicial declaration that said second marriage is void. In Yap v. This ruling was affirmed in Tolentino v. Wiegel filed a petition with the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court to declare his marriage to Lilia as void on the ground of her previous valid marriage. accordingly. The Court acquitted accused on the ground that the second marriage is void. We exonerated a clerk of court of the charge of immorality on the ground that his marriage to Filomena Abella in October of 1948 was void. thus reverting to the Odayat. the Court adverted to Aragon and Mendoza as precedents. But in Odayat v. we recognized the right of the second wife who entered into the marriage in good faith. Paras. expressly relying on Consuegra. and the first one terminated by the death of his wife. Hence.second marriage. the marriage of petitioner and respondent would be regarded VOID under the law. Consuegra. Lipana. Sempio-Diy (1986). Amante (1977). Mendoza and Aragon rulings. In Gomez v. and Consuegra v.
. since she was already previously married to one Eliseo Portales in February of the same year. Wiegel. Justice Alex Reyes dissented in both cases. The second wife initiated a complaint for bigamy. (Emphasis supplied). Yet again in Wiegel v. Court of Appeals.

11. Mendoza and Aragon. the Court held: Came the Family Code which settled once and for all the conflicting jurisprudence on the matter. in the present case. The first marriage of private
. 40. there is no need for a judicial declaration of nullity of the first marriage pursuant to prevailing jurisprudence at that time. before Wiegel. a judicial declaration that the first marriage was null and void ab initio is essential. we applied Odayat. (Art. Thus. 54. The absolute nullity of a previous marriage may be invoked for purposes of remarriage on the basis solely of a final judgment declaring such previous marriage void. 99. Court of Appeals (1993). Terre should have known that the prevailing case law is that “for purposes of determining whether a person is legally free to contract a second marriage. 48. The judge claimed that his first marriage was void since he was merely forced into marrying his first wife whom he got pregnant. a recent case applied the old rule because of the peculiar circumstances of the case. At that time. On the issue of nullity of the first marriage. (1997) the first wife charged a municipal trial judge of immorality for entering into a second marriage. 44. Our rulings in Gomez. 86. We held that Atty.At any rate. 148). (Family Code. 147. Mendoza and Aragon. categorically stated that a judicial declaration of nullity of a void marriage is necessary. and Wiegel were eventually embodied in Article 40 of the Family Code. See also arts. the sole basis acceptable in law for said projected marriage to be free from legal infirmity is a final judgment declaring the previous marriage void. the second marriage of private respondent was entered into in 1979. 40. Consuegra. 50. the confusion under the Civil Code was put to rest under the Family Code. We held that since the second marriage took place and all the children thereunder were born before the promulgation of Wiegel and the effectivity of the Family Code. A declaration of absolute nullity of marriage is now explicitly required either as a cause of action or a ground for defense. 52. applying Gomez. However. Article 40 of said Code expressly required a judicial declaration of nullity of marriage – Art. 39 of the Family Code). In Apiag v. Where the absolute nullity of a previous marriage is sought to be invoked for purposes of contracting a second marriage. Art. In Domingo v. Similarly. we disbarred a lawyer for contracting a bigamous marriage during the subsistence of his first marriage. 13. Consuegra and Wiegel. the prevailing rule was found in Odayat. Terre (1992) the Court. Cantero. In Terre v. He claimed that his first marriage in 1977 was void since his first wife was already married in 1968.” The Court applied this ruling in subsequent cases. 42.

the Family Code has retroactive effect unless there be impairment of vested rights.” On the matter of petitioner’s counterclaim for damages and attorney’s fees. there was no need for judicial declaration of its nullity before he could contract a second marriage. Indeed we find there was a marriage license. that impairment of vested rights of petitioner and the children is patent. we find that petitioner now has raised this matter properly. Additionally. Obviously. Thus. if not inequity. She adds that the interest of the State in protecting the inviolability of marriage. it did not award
. the church ceremony was confirmatory of their civil marriage. In the present case. for to do so would prejudice the vested rights of petitioner and of her children. In this case. 1979 and used in both the civil and the church rites. In our view.e. but which was not timely interposed by her before the trial court.respondent being void for lack of license and consent. coming now to the civil effects of the church ceremony wherein petitioner married private respondent using the marriage license used three years earlier in the civil ceremony. that petitioner had failed to raise this matter as affirmative defense during trial. She argues that such failure does not prevent the appellate court from giving her defense due consideration and weight. we find that the provisions of the Family Code cannot be retroactively applied to the present case. including the requirement of a valid license in the first of the two ceremonies. the appellate court erred when it refused to recognize the validity and salutary effects of said canonical marriage on a technicality. As petitioner contends. petitioner and private respondent had complied with all the essential and formal requisites for a valid marriage. for we hold that the latter rites served not only to ratify but also to fortify the first. The appellate court might have its reasons for brushing aside this possible defense of the defendant below which undoubtedly could have tendered a valid issue. outweighs such technicality. As held in Jison v. But we are now persuaded we cannot play blind to the absurdity. i. we are not quite prepared to give assent to the appellate court’s finding that despite private respondent’s “deceit and perfidy” in contracting marriage with petitioner. we conclude that private respondent’s second marriage to petitioner is valid. as a legal and social institution. That this license was used legally in the celebration of the civil ceremony does not detract from the ceremonial use thereof in the church wedding of the same parties to the marriage. Moreover. though it was the same license issued on April 3. therefore. Although the appellate court admitted that they found private respondent acted “duplicitously and craftily” in marrying petitioner. Earlier petitioner claimed as untruthful private respondent’s allegation that he wed petitioner but they lacked a marriage license. of letting the wrongdoer profit from what the CA calls “his own deceit and perfidy. he could benefit from her silence on the issue. Court of Appeals.

we would have a situation where the husband pays the wife damages from conjugal or common funds. anxiety. and the award of the amount of P15. 1996. Like the lower courts. WHEREFORE. Should we grant her prayer. the petition is GRANTED. SO ORDERED. militates against such incongruity. are reversed partially. our laws do not comprehend an action for damages between husband and wife merely because of breach of a marital obligation. Moreover. we are also of the view that no damages should be awarded in the present case. There are other remedies. besmirched reputation.
. Ty and private respondent Edgardo M. In the same breath. but for another reason. so that the marriage of petitioner Ofelia P. Petitioner wants her marriage to private respondent held valid and subsisting.moral damages because the latter did not adduce evidence to support her claim. for as long as they are of minor age or otherwise legally entitled thereto. would make the application of the law absurd. The assailed Decision of the Court of Appeals dated July 24. Reyes is hereby DECLARED VALID AND SUBSISTING. Costs against private respondent.000. To do so. she asks for damages from her husband for filing a baseless complaint for annulment of their marriage which caused her mental anguish. 1996 and its Resolution dated November 7.00 is RATIFIED and MAINTAINED as monthly support to their two children. if not common sense. She is suing to maintain her status as legitimate wife. Faye Eloise Reyes and Rachel Anne Reyes. social humiliation and alienation from her parents. Logic.